View source for Boskoop

{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->
<!-- Name and transliteration -->
| name                    = Boskoop
| settlement_type         = Town and former [[List of municipalities of the Netherlands|municipality]]
<!-- Images, nickname, motto -->
| image_skyline           = Boskoop stadshuis.jpg
| image_alt               = 
| image_caption           = Former Boskoop city hall
| image_flag              = Flag of Boskoop.svg
| flag_size               = 100x67px
| flag_alt                = 
| image_shield            = Boskoop wapen.svg
| shield_size             = 100x80px
| shield_alt              = 
<!-- Maps, coordinates -->
<!--
| image_map               = Map - NL - Municipality code 0499 (2009).svg
| map_alt                 = Highlighted position of the former municipality of Boskoop
| map_caption             = Location in South Holland
-->
| pushpin_map             = Netherlands South Holland#Netherlands
| pushpin_label_position  = right
| pushpin_mapsize         = 250
| pushpin_map_caption     = Location in the province of South Holland in the Netherlands##Location in the Netherlands
| coordinates             = {{coord|52|4|N|4|39|E|region:NL|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes   = 
| subdivision_type        = Country
| subdivision_name        = [[Netherlands]]
| subdivision_type1       = [[Provinces of the Netherlands|Province]]
| subdivision_name1       = [[South Holland]]
| subdivision_type2       = [[List of municipalities of the Netherlands|Municipality]]
| subdivision_name2       = [[Alphen aan den Rijn]]
<!-- Geographic information -->
| unit_pref               = Metric
<!-- ALL fields with measurements have automatic unit conversion -->
<!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| area_footnotes          = <ref name="key_data">{{cite web |url = http://statline.cbs.nl/StatWeb/publication/?DM=SLNL&PA=70904ned&D1=3,15,122-124&D2=8194&D3=l&LA=EN&HDR=T&STB=G1,G2&VW=T |title = Kerncijfers wijken en buurten |trans-title=Key figures for neighbourhoods |language = Dutch |author = <!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date = 11 December 2013 |work = CBS Statline |publisher = [[Statistics Netherlands|CBS]] |accessdate = 14 January 2014}}</ref>
<!-- square kilometers -->
| area_total_km2          = 7.29
| area_land_km2           = 5.91
| area_water_km2          = 1.39
| elevation_footnotes     = <ref name="AHN">{{cite web 
 |url = http://www.ahn.nl/postcodetool
 |title = Postcodetool for 2771EK
 |trans-title=|language = Dutch
 |author = <!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> 
 |date = 
 |work = Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland
 |publisher = Het Waterschapshuis
 |accessdate = 15 July 2013}}</ref>
| elevation_m             = &minus;2
| elevation_max_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| elevation_max_m         =
| elevation_min_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| elevation_min_m         =
<!-- Population, demographics -->
| population_footnotes    = <ref name="stat">{{cite web |url=https://www.cbs.nl/-/media/_excel/2021/48/kwb-2021.xls |title=Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2021 |website=Central Bureau of Statistics |access-date=2 May 2022}}</ref>
| population_total        = 16,325
| population_as_of        = 2021
| population_demonym      = 
| population_note         =
| population_density_km2  = auto
<!-- Other information -->
| timezone1               = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset1             = +1
| timezone1_DST           = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset1_DST         = +2
| postal_code_type        = [[Postal codes in the Netherlands|Postcode]]
| postal_code             = 2770–2771
| area_code_type          = [[Telephone numbers in the Netherlands|Area code]]
| area_code               = 0172
| footnotes               =
}}
[[File:Boskoop hefbrug1.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Centre of Boskoop.]]
[[File:Boskoop rosarium.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Rose Garden of Boskoop.]]
'''Boskoop''' ({{IPA|nl|ˈbɔskoːp|-|Nl-Boskoop.ogg}}) is a town in the province of [[South Holland]]. It was a separate municipality until it merged into [[Alphen aan den Rijn]] in 2014. The town had a population of 15,050 in 2012 and covers an area of {{convert|7.29|km2|abbr=on}} of which {{convert|1.39|km2|abbr=on}} is water. It's the world's biggest joined [[floriculture]] area.

Boskoop is famous for its [[nursery (horticulture)|nurseries]], particularly woody plant and perennial nurseries, of which some 774 are situated on long stretches of land, divided by narrow canals. Before [[World War II]] almost all transport was conducted using narrow boats. A few exceptionally high footbridges crossing some of the broader (main) canals remain from these days. Between the World Wars the transition was made from fruit culture to decorative garden plants and trees. As a source of technical knowledge about the art of growing decorative plants, Boskoop remains world-renowned and unique.

The name "Boskoop" has been given to an [[List of apple cultivars|apple cultivar]] ([[Belle de Boskoop (apple)|Belle de Boskoop]]) which is widely distributed in the Low Countries, to a [[List of grape varieties|grape variety]] (''[[Boskoop Glory]]'') and also to a variety of [[Calluna]] (''Boskoop'') and [[Weigela]] (''Boskoop Glory'') and [[blackcurrant]] ("Boskoop Giant").

==Geography==
Boskoop is located in the Green Heart (nl: [[Groene Hart]]) of the [[Randstad]], spanning both sides of the river [[Gouwe (river)|Gouwe]] between [[Alphen aan den Rijn]] (to the north) and [[Waddinxveen]] (to the south), both also along the river. The municipality is bordered in the east by [[Reeuwijk]] and [[Bodegraven]], and in the west by [[Rijnwoude]]. A [[vertical-lift bridge]] in the centre of the village connects both shores of the Gouwe.

==History==
It is assumed that Boskoop originated from the settlement ''Ten Bussche'', founded by [[William I, Count of Holland]], in 1204. In 1222, the Abbey of Rijnsburg became owner of Boskoop. The Abbey decided to enlarge its tree and shrub inventory by making the farmers grow more trees than they would need for their own [[orchard]]s. From the 15th to the 17th century more and more trees were produced and decorative plants were introduced. At the end of the 19th century, Boskoop began with the export of its products, Germany being its first client.

The history of Boskoop was greatly influenced by its location on top of a thick [[peat]] layer. When the Abbey of Rijnsburg became owners of Boskoop, the harvesting of peat for fuel began. But unlike other towns in the "Green Heart" where extensive peat harvesting led to the formation of large ponds and lakes, Boskoop was too far from the major cities and peat harvesting was not profitable. Also the abbey did not permit the excavation of the peat layer on its lands. So Boskoop still has fertile soil for agriculture and horticulture.

An obstacle to the [[arboriculture]] was the high [[groundwater]] level, which was just below the surface at Boskoop. Many canals and ditches were dug to drain the rain waters, up to 2000&nbsp;km at one point in its history. Consequently, much transportation was done by means of these waterways. By introducing new drainage methods which lowered the groundwater level, many ditches could be filled again. Yet at the beginning of the 21st century, there are still many canals in Boskoop on which many nurseries rely for transportation. As a result, Boskoop is sometimes called "Small [[Giethoorn]]". Nowadays, most plants are grown directly in pots, as opposed to open ground, and shipped to auction directly from the nursery. The viability of the nursery industry in Boskoop is also at risk, as nursery production has switched to container production, as opposed to field growing. The small size of the nurseries, the inability to mechanize, government regulations, the high cost of land, and the high cost of labor have all increased the economic pressure on the Boskoop nursery industry.

The municipality of Boskoop had been in financial straits for the several years, in part because of the high cost of maintaining the constantly sinking roads, before it was amalgamated into [[Alphen aan den Rijn]]. On 1 January 2014 the municipality was merged into Alphen aan den Rijn at the same time as [[Rijnwoude]].<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.cbs.nl/nl-NL/menu/methoden/classificaties/overzicht/gemeentelijke-indeling/2014/default.htm |title = Gemeentelijke indeling op 1 januari 2014 |trans-title=Municipal divisions on 1 January 2014 |language = Dutch |website = cbs.nl |publisher = [[Statistics Netherlands|CBS]] |accessdate = 10 January 2014}}</ref> When it was dissolved, the municipality had a population of 15,196 and a total area of {{convert|16.95|km2|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://statline.cbs.nl/StatWeb/publication/?DM=SLNL&PA=37230NED&D1=17-18&D2=101-619,621,624-632&D3=l&LA=EN&HDR=T&STB=G1,G2&VW=T |title = Bevolkingsontwikkeling; regio per maand |trans-title=Population growth; regions per month |language = Dutch |author = <!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date = 23 December 2013 |work = CBS Statline |publisher = [[Statistics Netherlands|CBS]] |accessdate = 24 December 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://statline.cbs.nl |title = Kerncijfers wijken en buurten |trans-title=Key figures for neighbourhoods |language = Dutch |author = <!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date = 2 July 2013 |work = CBS Statline |publisher = [[Statistics Netherlands|CBS]] |accessdate = 11 July 2013}}</ref>

==Transport==
Boskoop is served by [[Boskoop railway station]], which is in the west part of town. In 2017, [[Boskoop Snijdelwijk railway station]] was opened.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ovmagazine.nl/2016/03/vertraging-dreigt-op-spoor-zuid-holland-1034/|title=Vertraging dreigt op spoor Zuid-Holland|date=10 March 2016|publisher=OV Magazine|language=Dutch|accessdate=18 February 2017}}</ref> Boskoop is connected to the [[RijnGouweLijn]], which runs from [[Alphen aan den Rijn]] to [[Gouda, South Holland|Gouda]]. Trains travel every thirty minutes in either direction. In peak hours, an additional two trains travel every hour in the directions of Gouda and [[Leiden]].

==Attractions==
The [[vertical-lift bridge]] at Boskoop is one of three similar bridges over the Gouwe; the other two are in Alphen aan den Rijn and Waddinxveen. Because of its central location, the bridge characterizes the village skyline. A new bicycle path was added to the bridge during its renovation at the beginning of the 1990s.

Another historic building is the (now partially dismantled) Water Tower of Boskoop. It is located on the north-west side of the village on the same road crossing the lift bridge.

Near the train station is an extensive rose garden (rosarium), with free access and open the whole year. More than 160 types of roses are exhibited here together with numerous other shrubs, trees, and plants.

In view of its history, it is not surprising Boskoop has a nursery museum. It is located in an old nursery residence from 1870. Behind the museum is another rose garden with rose varieties from the 17th to the 20th century.

From spring to fall, boat tours are organized through the many canals of Boskoop, which tour along the nurseries and nature areas and provide information about the history and surroundings of Boskoop. And once per year, a nursery canoe tour is organized.

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Boskoop}}
*[https://www.hvboskoop.nl/ Historische vereniging Boskoop]

<!--Please note that not all directions need to be filled-->
<!--Please note that preferably only neighboring municipalities or bodies of water should be used-->
{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Boskoop
|North     = [[Alphen aan den Rijn]]
|Northeast = [[Zwammerdam]]
|East      = [[Bodegraven]]
|Southeast = [[Reeuwijk]]
|South     = [[Waddinxveen]]
|Southwest = Eerste Dwarstocht
|West      = [[Benthuizen]]
|Northwest = [[Hazerswoude-Dorp]]
}}
{{Dutch municipality Alphen aan den Rijn}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Municipalities of the Netherlands disestablished in 2014]]
[[Category:Former municipalities of South Holland]]
[[Category:Populated places in South Holland]]
[[Category:Alphen aan den Rijn]]